Metropolismania
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| Metropolismania | |
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| Developer(s) | Media Factory |
| Publisher(s) | Natsume Co., Ltd |
| Release date(s) | October 3, 2002 (NA) |
| Genre(s) | Strategy game City-building game |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Teen (T) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
| Media | CD-ROM |
Metropolismania is a PlayStation 2 game released on October 3, 2002. It is published by Natsume, the game is a city-building game where your interactions with the NPCs bring in populations to your town. The game was released under a traditional CD-ROM format, uncommon to the PS2.
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[edit] Game Play
There are various goals to complete in each of the five main scenarios. Goals always involve growing your town to a given population, and often ensuring that a percentage of the buildings are of a certain type, i.e. businesses, farms, or amusement facilities. There are also side stories that occur within each scenario, sometimes including bizarre instances involving smuggling rings, a cult, and even aliens. When all requirements for the scenario have been met, your boss will call you to congratulate you and send you a letter of resignation, allowing you to move on to the next scenario.
Game play also centers heavily on interaction with the in-game characters. Each character has a friendship meter that increases or decreases based on interactions such as "gossip" and giving gifts. Relationship statuses are: "stranger," "know the face," "acquaintance," "friend" and "best friend." Introducing new citizens or solving complaints is often based on good friendship status with these characters.
The game is notable for its extremely poor English translation, i.e. "Hello, this is [name] from the Senior Citizen," if a Senior Citizen were to contact you and introduce him/herself. Also, one might greet you with phrases uncommon in English-speaking countries such as the Japanese "Have you eaten?" which is a greeting question not meant to be answered, much like the American "How's it going?" Translation errors like this tend to annoy some fans, while others would argue that it gives the game a unique, perhaps quirky charm.
[edit] Characters
There are several categories of characters in the game. Visually, characters within a category may have some variation, from the color of their hair to their clothing. Knowing personality types also aids the player in the game as certain conversational or "gossip" items more quickly increase the friendship meter. Some characters, as described within the game, include:
- Ambitious Trendy Guy
- Amiable Old Man Who Likes to Help Others
- Amiable Old Woman Who Likes to Help Others
- Athletic Guy Who Likes to Check Out Girls
- Boy (usually in the 6-10 years old range)
- Gal With Heavy Make-Up
- Girl (usually in the 6-10 years old range)
- Guy Who Likes To Give You Advice
- Mellow Girl Who Can Forecast Weather
- Middle-Aged Man With Commercial Smile
- Middle-Aged Man Who Likes Riddles
- Middle-Aged Man Who Likes to Tell Jokes
- Middle-Aged Shameless Woman
- Mom Who Likes Gossiping in Park
- Mommy's Boy
- Nerd Who Loves Computers and Video Games
- Nerdy Girl Who Is Into Fortune Telling
- Nerdy Girl Who Likes Everything But Her Work
- Ordinary Girl
- Ordinary Middle-Aged Kind Woman
- Playboy
- Playgirl
- Quiet Girl
- Stubborn Old Man
- Stubborn Old Woman
- Workaholic Middle-Aged Grouchy Man
[edit] Buildings
Buidings fall into many categories, as can be seen in the "Town Pages" phone book. Placement is strategic as many buildings require close proximity to others. Some examples include:
- Small Offices: Stackable up to three, includes "Planning Company," "Accounting Firm" and "Software Company."
- Large Offices: Stackable up to four, includes "Bank," "Insurance Company," and "Publishing Firm."
- Factories: Including "Garbage Dump," "Fabric Factory," and "Steel Mill."
- Gas Stations
- Fishing Industry: Including "Shrimp Port," "Sardine Port," and "Oyster Culture."
- Ancillary Fishing Buildings: "Fish Market," "Fishing Coop," "Bait Shop."
- Farming Industry: Including "Orange Orchard," "Grapefruit Farm," and "Rice Paddy."
- Ancillary Farming Buildings: "Water Well," "Farm Machinery, "Pest Controlers."
- Residences: Multiple versions of Families (some with pre-school age chilrden, teenagers, etc.) as well as Senior Citizens, "Student Accom" and "Studio Appartment" (sic). Some speciality residences exist in the game as well, including "Piano Tuner's Home" and "Author's Home." These special designations do not seem to have any additional benefit in-game.
- Amusement Facilities: Including "Karaoke," "Amusement Park," and "Slot Machines." Some amusements are specifically for Senior Citizens, Adults, or Families.
- Grocers: Including "Seafood Shop," "Butcher Shop," and "Fruit & Veg. Shop."
- Super Stores: Including "Tailor," "Electrician," and "Department Store."
- Restaurants: In this game, restaurants have specific target consumers; some are specifically for Family, some are for Adult. Examples include "Savory Pancakes," "Coffee Shop," and "French Bistro."
- Police Stations
- Employment Agency
- Schools: Each school category has a specific age range for students, including "Daycare Center," "Primary School," and "University."
- Hospitals: Including "Dental Dept.," "Maternity Ward," and "Local Hospital."
- Playgrounds
